Pettengill fundraiser to rock Blue Ocean this month

Tuesday

Mar 6, 2018 at 1:50 PMMar 6, 2018 at 6:42 PM

By Carol FeingoldCorrespondent

Help pack the house for the Pettengill House at the 7th annual Pettengill House Fundraiser on Saturday, March 24, from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Blue Ocean Music Hall. The theme is "Pony Up for the Pettengill House" and guests are encouraged to wear denim.

Be prepared to dance the night away to music by Thomas Machine Works Band and Low Ex, and help honor John Wile, longtime supporter of Pettengill House.

"We are pleased to announce that John Wile will be this year’s Honorary Chairperson," said Rebecca Nazzaro, who is chairing the event with Caroline Meagher.

"The entire Pettengill House team shares in our celebration of you and your longtime commitment of supporting area children and families in need," executive director of Pettengill House Deb Smith wrote Wile. "Since 2009, your personal donations along with hours of volunteer efforts coordinating road races on behalf of Pettengill House has provided enormous and lasting impact on our community.

"Hats off to you, John, for spearheading these community events and thank you so very, very much for your continued dedication and efforts."

In previous years, the Pettengill House has honored Wayne Capolupo, Cynthia Costello, Michelle Walsh, Rob and Shauna Werner, Cathy Toomey, and Billie McLane.

"All of the people we have honored over the years," Smith said, "are people who support their community in any way they can. It’s a nice variety. They are business owners, educators, residents, all so deserving in their own areas."

As in years past Blue Ocean Music Hall has donated the space for the evening and Thomas Machine Works Band has donated its time. For over a decade Thomas Machine Works Band has played at Pettengill House fundraisers, so much so that they are affectionately known as "the Pettengill house band."

Joining them on the stage this year will be Low Ex, a local band that formed about six years ago at a St. Patrick’s Day house party of one of the members.

"As four of us at the party talked about our love of music we realized that we had the makings of a band, with two singers, a drummer and lead guitarist," band member Matt O’Hala said. "We found a great guitar player on Craig’s list and asked other musician friends to join us.

"We started out being called Low Expectations, because most people wouldn’t have taken that initial conversation forward and followed through thinking that they couldn’t pull it off, but we went for it."

Low Ex is donating its time to Pettengill House.

"We’ve been playing around the North Shore ever since and mainly get together to perform at benefits. We’re proud that we’ve helped raise thousands of dollars for various causes over the years," O’Hala said. "Our musical style is fun, hard driving rock & roll. We’ve put together a great list of songs especially for this show."

Be prepared to kick up your heels. "This is a more casual event than in years past," Nazzaro said. "We are encouraging denim dancing."

"I didn’t want to wear a dress and heels," Meagher said. "I wanted to wear denim and cowboy boots. They’re comfortable and casual and free you up to have a good time and support Pettengill House."

"We moved the event from Friday to Saturday night," Nazzaro said, "so people don’t have to rush there after work. We’re also holding it later in March to hopefully avoid snow. We had a snowstorm last year."

This year’s Platinum Sponsors are Institution for Savings, Provident Bank and Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank, who help make the event possible. "And we have room for lots more," Smith said. "All proceeds benefit local programs and services for children, families and individuals."

There are several ways to support the fundraiser and The Pettengill House, Inc.:

Become a sponsor and purchase an ad for the program book.Donate a silent auction item.Attend the event with a group of friends. Tickets are $60 in advance, $70 at the door, and can be purchased at The Pettengill House, or online at www.pettengillhouse.org. While at the event, bid on the silent and live auction items.

"The year our auction items will include tickets to the Taylor Swift concert at Gillette Stadium in July," Nazzaro said, "a working classic guitar signed by rock ‘n roll legends, Bruins and Red Sox tickets, sports memorabilia, gift baskets, lots of gift certificates from area merchants, and much more."

Steve Deorocki will be the auctioneer, and invited dignitaries will be on hand to lend their support. Appetizers and a light dinner will be served with a cash bar.

"There’s always something for everyone," Nazzaro said, "and 88 percent of the money given to Pettengill House goes to directly to services."

The Pettengill House holds only major fundraiser each year – the Blue Ocean Fundraiser.

"Be a part of a community celebrating an amazing community agency benefiting the less fortunate in this area," Nazzaro said. "This is our opportunity to give back to allow Pettengill House to continue its important work."

Get out your cowboy boots and "Pony Up for the Pettengill House." It’s a win-win. You’ll have a good time, support a good cause, and maybe even walk away with tickets to see Taylor Swift.

About the Pettengill House

The Pettengill House, Inc. was founded in 1994, by a diverse group of local residents and agency representatives to address the needs of the most at-risk, underserved children and families. The original goals were prevention related. However, it immediately became clear that the organization’s clientele were primarily concerned with survival issues of food, clothing, shelter, health and safety.

The need has only grown. Serving the communities of Amesbury, Byfield, Groveland, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, and West Newbury, Pettengill House now works with 40 state and local agencies and organizations. During FY 2017, Pettengill House helped provide the following services:

Comprehensive Case Management, Advocacy, Interventions and Support Services to 3,030 clients 2,018 adults and 1,012 children (600 of whom were deemed homeless: 445 adults, 154 children)199 Home Visits and Assessments and InterventionsDistribution of 376 backpacks and school supplies (12 year total 4,878)School Link Service Supports to 517 students and their families179,310 meals provided through Pettengill food pantry and Saturday Night Meals programDistribution of 980 winter coats (9 year total 6,025)Distribution of 109 supplemental holiday gifts to area children and teensEmergency Assistance supports in the amount of $81,403.24Over 400 volunteers contributed 8,029 volunteer hoursOver 6,500 donors

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